Wallace State: Pharmacy Technology

AWARD OFFERED Certificate and Associate in Applied Science Degree

Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists prepare medications and other health care products. Technicians perform routine tasks to assist the supervising pharmacist in the preparation of prescribed medications.

Pharmacy technicians who work in retail or mail-order pharmacies have varying responsibilities, depending on state rules and regulations. Technicians receive written prescriptions or requests for prescription refills from patients. They may also receive prescriptions sent electronically from the doctor’s office. They must verify that the information on the prescription is complete and accurate. To prepare the prescription, technicians must retrieve, count, pour, weigh, measure, and sometimes mix the medication. Then, they prepare the prescription labels, select the type of prescription container, and affix the prescription and auxiliary labels to the container. A pharmacist must review each prescription for accuracy before it is received by the patient. Technicians may also establish and maintain patient profiles, prepare insurance claim forms, and stock and take inventory of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

In hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities, technicians have added responsibilities, including preparing intravenous medications and delivering medicine to nursing units. Still, the pharmacist must check the order before it is delivered to the patient.

The Pharmacy Technology program at Wallace State provides general education courses, lab and theory courses as well as supervised clinical practice to develop the skills required in pharmacy technician practice.

Good job opportunities are expected for full-time and part-time work, especially for technicians with formal training or previous experience. Job openings for pharmacy technicians will result from the expansion of retail pharmacies and other employment.

Median hourly earnings of pharmacy technicians in May 2004 were $11.37, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $16.61 per hour. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Brandon Brooks, Program Director
256/352-8023
brandon.brooks@wallacestate.edu